Post navigation

Columbus, OH – The Columbus Arts Festival celebrates the best in fine art and crafts in Columbus, June 9-11. Admission to this carefully curated, juried arts festival is free, with special Friends of the Festival VIP packages available. Produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, festival hours are Friday, June 9, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hundreds of notable local, national and international artists representing 37 U.S. states, plus Belgium and Canada, will exhibit and sell their work at the 56th annual event.

The festival’s wildly creative vibe is amplified by Columbus’ recently completed downtown riverfront restoration, known as the Scioto Mile. Bicentennial Park and two architecturally beautiful bridges at Main and Rich streets rise above a green ribbon of lush, reclaimed parkland, which features 175 acres of green space filled with native plants, a winding promenade, sculptural water features, plazas, paths and bikeways.

New this year, the stunning sculptural creation of artists Cristobel and Samuel Wagner, Structural Circumstances E.G. 2, will bring a 24’ x 8’ mobile home replica crafted from brightly colored, transparent plexiglass to the east side of Bicentennial Park. The installation commission was the first for the Columbus Arts Festival. During the day, sunshine will project the vibrant, stained-glass-like image of the structure onto the viewer and the ground around him or her. Lit from within, the work will brilliantly glow at night. The Wagners hope the piece will encourage dialogue and foster deeper understanding between socioeconomic sectors.

Downtown Columbus’ Scioto Mile will rock, swing and sing during the 2017 festival. This year’s Main Stage will feature live performances throughout the day by popular local and national acts, including Dave Buker & the Historians, the acoustic band Tennessee Traffic, Andy Shaw Band and many more incredible talents. Headliners for the weekend are local bands on the rise nationally, focusing on alternative music, which continues to grow in popularity. The local alternative rock band Zoo Trippin’, takes the stage at 9 p.m. Friday. Rising pop, country and R&B singer Charlie Millikin performs Saturday evening at 9 p.m. On Sunday morning, a performance by the Columbus Symphony will be a highlight of the festival.

The Columbus Arts Festival also features three additional performance stages, including the Grange Acoustic Stage with multi-disciplinary performances and a diverse mix of music, from acoustic and jazz to bluegrass and world music. A second stage features more than a dozen local dance troupes and companies. The Ohio Magazine Word is Art stage spotlights some of Columbus’ most talented spoken word poets and authors.

###

Experience Columbus is the destination marketing organization for the Columbus region, dedicated to Columbus is a city unlike any other. Vibrant and alive, Ohio’s capital is known for its open attitude, smart style and entrepreneurial spirit. Columbus’ uncommon blend of neighborhoods, arts and culinary experiences, events, attractions and accommodations are made unforgettable by its diversity of outgoing locals who warmly welcome visitors. In 2016, Columbus was ranked “Highest in Visitor Satisfaction in the Midwest” by J.D. Power in the 2016 Destination Experience Satisfaction StudySM. Free travel guides, maps, online booking and detailed information are available at www.ExperienceColumbus.com or 866.397.2657 (866.EXP.COLS). Visitor information is also available on Facebook: facebook.com/ExperienceColumbus and facebook.com/ColumbusFoodScene, Twitter: @ExpCols and Instagram.

Columbus, OH received the highest numerical score among 8 cities in the Midwest in the J.D. Power 2016 Destination Experience Satisfaction Study, based on 26,124 total responses, measuring the experiences and perceptions of travelers who visited a top 50 U.S. destination, surveyed February-July 2016. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

HOWARD COUNTY, Md. – Visitors to Howard County, Maryland will find one of the nation’s most unique festivals at the 44th annual Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. One of the largest celebrations of all things sheep — from hoof to handwoven — takes place May 6-7 at the Howard County Fairgrounds. The festival hosts more than 250 vendors and puts on 40 workshops related to shepherding and fiber arts.

Visitors can watch live shearing demonstrations, enjoy mouth-watering lamb dishes and attend breed shows and auctions, all while listening to traditional shepherding music, played on mandolins, bagpipes and hammered dulcimers. From learning to knit and weave, to watching sheep dog demonstrations and wool fashion shows, the two-day event is loaded with extraordinary experiences.

Additionally, visitors can attend the Saturday Shepherds Feast from 6 to 8 p.m. or the Sunday Breakfast Buffet from 7 to 9 a.m. Other noteworthy events include the Grand Lamb Cook-off, Spinning Competitions, fine art show and a Knit-Along for charity.

“While the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is one of the industry’s largest events, it also offers incredibly unique experiences for our visitors,” said Visit Howard County Executive Director Anthony Cordo. “This year’s event should be bigger and better than ever, with dozens of sheep and wool offerings and entertainment options, including loads of hands-on activities for travelers of all ages.”

The 2017 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival will open its doors at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. for breakfast on Sunday. Parking is free and festival admission is $5 per person. More information can be found at sheepandwool.org.

Located just minutes from Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Howard County, Maryland offers a one-of-a-kind blend of rural escapes, big-city dining and culture, unforgettable shopping, small-town charm and rich American history. Complete information on this unique destination is available at VisitHowardCounty.com or by calling (800) 288-8747 (TRIP).